THE glorious spring sunshine drew the crowds to Newcastle Emlyn’s first Vintage Day.

Visitors young and old flocked to the town for the event organised by Newcastle Emlyn Traders’ Group. The streets were lined with stalls featuring everything from cakes to knitwear, while there were dozens of vintage cars, bikes and tractors on display.

West Wales Morris Minor Owners’ Club certainly drew the crowds with their display, along with cars from Teifi Old Car Club.

Town mayor Cllr Odette Little said: “This is the first Vintage Day we have staged in Newcastle Emlyn and if it is a success I would hope it will become an annual event.

“We certainly got the weather and it’s great to see the streets busy, with so many people milling about. People seem to love the old cars and tractors and I think the fact we are providing free car parking for visitors today is also helping draw people to the town.

“We are trying to stagger events throughout the year, with the Food Festival set to be staged at the beginning of June to come and then we have the Victorian Night in December. It all helps to promote the town and raise awareness of what’s on offer here.”

Newcastle Emlyn Traders’ Group chairperson Jill Sutton, one of the organisers behind the Vintage Day, said she was delighted with the response to the idea.

“The traders’ group was formed back in November 2015 so we are still very much in our infancy with what we plan to do in the town for the future but this is the sort of event we are looking to promote,” she said.

“We are looking to increase the footfall and economic activity in the town and campaign on issues that have an impact on businesses.

“We see events like this as beneficial to everyone. We have a great passion for Newcastle Emlyn to be a vibrant and, from a business point of view, profitable town.

“I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to everybody who helped organise the event or took part and we are looking forward to next year.”